Share the post "Album review: CRY OF DAWN featuring Goran Edman- Cry of Dawn"
(Release Date 23.09.16)
In melodic rock circles, the name of Goran Edman is spoken of in hushed terms as one of the genre’s top vocalists, in a long career ranging from singing with John Norum and Yngwie Malmsteen to gracing cult AOR albums from the likes of Street talk and Kharma. Now after a relatively fallow period he is back as lead vocalist on a new project.
With Frontiers in-house names such as Daniel Flores and Michael Palace on board, and the press release likening the album to Night Ranger, Bad English, Journey and Starship expectations are high.
And yet the initial impression was that this was another of those studio projects that adds up to less than the sum of its parts. ‘Chance’ is a disappointing opener where the music promises much but the song is rather disjointed with a chorus that falls flat, while the otherwise impressive ‘Listen to Me’ is spoiled by some rather grating, helium-voiced backing vocals on the chorus that overpower Goran’s deeper, richer tones. On ‘When Right is Wrong’ he appears to be straining on a song written for someone with a higher natural register.
However things come together spectacularly on a blissfully melodic ‘Tell it to My Heart’, given a sharper edge by one of many great guitar solos from Michael Palace while ‘Can’t Go On’ has a definite Survivor vibe in the chorus.
Throughout, keyboards are prominent in a manner which will delight traditional AOR purists. Surprisingly though it is seven songs in before not one, but two mid-tempo ballads in ‘Building Towers’ and ‘Hands around my Heart’, both reminding me of cult AOR heroes Signal.
‘Life after Love’ picks up the pace again in anthemic fashion with bouncy keyboards to the fore, then after the slightly progressive feel of ‘Yearn’ offers something different, ‘Tell Me’ concludes the album with a perfect, Scandi-inflected vocal from Goran, but a naggingly familiar melody that I traced to Foreigner’s ‘Say You Will’.
In short, an album that falls short of the classic status of the aforementioned bands, but one of the better albums of the year for fans of old school melodic rock and Goran Edman’s peerless vocals. It just needs persistence to get beyond that odd sequencing with the weakest tracks opening the album.
*** 3/4
Review by Andy Nathan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: CRY OF DAWN featuring Goran Edman- Cry of Dawn"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
